Marking mechanism for seed planters



A May 7, 1940# Iw. G. STEVENS JR, 2.199.421`

MARKING MECHANISM RoR .SEED PLANTERS A Filed Feb. 24, 1958 3Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1940. w. G. sT-gvENs, .JR I 2,199,421

MARKING MECHANISM Foa sED 'PLANTERS Filed Feb. 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2May 7. 1940. w. G. STEVENS. JR 2,199,421

MARKING MEcHAIsM Foa SEED PLANTERS Fiied Feb. 24. 1939 5 Shets--Sheet 3l.' jeff/@126,UF:

'Patented May 7, 1940 PATENT OFFICE MARKING MECHANISM FOR SEED PLANTERSWilliam G. Stevens, Jr., Sykesville, Md. Application February 24, `1938.Serial No.` 192,348

17 claims. (ci. 111-25) This invention relates to improvements inplanters and more especially to novel means for use in marking inconnection with check row corn planters.

The primary purpose of the present `invention .is to supply improvedmarking means capable of accurately marking and using a liquid as amarking medium.A

`Another object is to furnish a liquid marker having improved means forregulating the opening of the valves.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other 'objects in viewwhich will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists inthe novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in. theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l1 is a top plan view of a corn planter shown in dotted lines andsupplied with my improved marking means shown in full lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the corn planter in dotted lines and. themarking means in full lines, the latter being shown partially inlongitudinal vertical section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of the improvedmechanism.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig, 5 is a rear elevation of a portion of the valve control means ofthe marking mechanism, partly broken away and partly ln vertical sectionand with one of the valves in open position.

Fig. 6 is asimilar view with the valve in closed position.

Referring to the drawings, I designates any suitable air-tight tankadapted to contain a suitable marking liquid, such as lime water, andto' be mounted on the frame of a corn planter. The tank is provided witha suitable opening closed by a cap 8, and it is also provided with anair valve 9 to be attached to an air or tire pump so that the liquid inthe container may be placed under air pressure.

A discharge pipe I0 leads from the bottom of lthe tank and is connectedwith suitable tubes II that extend to the ends of the runner frame I2 ofthe planter. Each tube terminates in a valve I3 having adepending'nozzle I4 to direct a jet of marking liquid downwardly at thesides of the planter in lateral alignment with seeds dropped from theconventional boots I5, which are supplied Wlth seed or corn from theusual hoppers I6.

Each valve preferably has a vertically disposed stem I'I which isslidable upwardly and downwardly in the yvalve casing, anda coil springI8 is arranged in the casing and acts on the stem to normally hold thevalve needle I9 in engagement with its seat.

The portions of the tubes IIa, which carry the valves, are rigid andsecured to the runner frame I2, and each tube carries a bracket 20forming a support for a valve lifter 2I and a cam 22; both of theseelements being pivotally mounted on the bracket and normally contactingwith one another under the influence of the spring I8.

The cams are preferably connected by wires 23 to pins 24, the latterbeing slidable in brackets 25 and having threaded connections at 26 withblocks 21. By means of the threaded connections thetautness of the wiresmay be adjusted.

The air pressure above the liquidlin the tank 1 provides the forcenecessary to eject a jet of liquid through nozzle I4 at the time thevalve needle I9 is raised from its seat in a manner soon to bedescribed.

Each block 21 is pivotally connected to the up'- per end of a rockinglever 28 that is pivotally secured at 29 to a bracket 30, and the upperends of the levers are pivotally connected by a pair of links 3l and 32,pivotally secured at 33 to an operating member 34.

The operating member is guided vertically by its depending leg 35 whichslidesl in the foot 36 of a bracket 31 that is adjustably mounted on therear bar of the runner frame, preferably by a slot and pin connection 38(see Fig. 5).

Links 40 have their upper ends connected to the operating member 34,and'their lower ends (see Fig. 4) are pivotally connected to the rearend of a lever 4I, the latter being fulcrumed at -42 in a bracket 43that is rigidly connected to the rear bar of the runner frame I2.

Lever 4I is rigidly secured to a cam face 44 that is normally held. by aspring 45 in contact the planter and its other end connected to theupper end portion of the rocking member 41, and

tends to yieldingly hold the member 41 in engagementwith an abutment 5Ithat is rigidly secured to the front bar of the runner frame.

A' cam 52 is rigidly securedto the check shaft by any suitable means,such as a screw 53, and each time the check shaft osclllates to dropseed or corn in the customary manner, the nose of the cam 52 will engagethe upper portion of the 'cams 22. and they will cause the lifters 2| toopen the valves and discharge jets of liquid or marking fluid atopposite sides of the planter.

Referring again to FigA, it will be understood that immediately afterthe check shaft 48 is re-A stored to normal position, the spring I9 willact to rotate the rocking member 81 in a counterclockwise direction, andthis will cause the roller 46 to again restore the lever 4| to full lineposition as shown in Fig. 4. Consequently the parts will be free topermit the springs I8 to immediately close the valves.

As the action of the check shaft 48 in a check row planter isinstantaneous, it will be understood that the valves will be actuatedinstantaneously, soy that the marking liquid will only be deposited atthe points desired.

By adjusting the bracket 31 upwardly or downwardly, the amount ofopening of the valves may be regulated uniformly.

While I have disclosed a workable embodiment of the invention, it willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art, that many changes maybe made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as expressed in the claims.

What' I claim and desire Patent is:

1. The combination with a check row planter having a check shaft, ofliquid marking means operatively connected with said shaft and' arrangedto eject a jet of liquid in alignment with dropped seed, each time seedis deposited by the planter, the last-mentioned means comprising a camfixed to the check shaft and a rocking member loosely mounted on theshaft and moved in one direction by said cam.

2. 'Ihe combination with a check row planter having a check shaft, aliquid marking means operatively connected with said shaft and arrangedto eject a jet of liquid in alignment with dropped seed, each time seedis deposited by the planter, the last-mentioned means comprising a camfixed to said shaft, a rocking member loosely mounted on the shaft andactuated by the cam, and means for yieldingly holding the rocking memberin a normal position.

3. ,The combination with a check row planter having a check shaft, ofliquid marking means operatively connected with said shaft and arrangedto eject a jet of liquid in alignment with dropped seed, each time seedis deposited by the planter, the last-mentioned means comprising a camxed to said shaft, a rocking member loosely mounted on the shaft andactuated by the cam, and means for yieldingly holding the rocking memberin a normal position, and a lever controlled Vby said rocking member.

- 4. In a check row corn planter having a runner frame, tubes projectingoutwardly from the ends of said frame, valves supplied with liquid bythe tubes, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the tubes, andmeans actuated by the to secure `by Letters by the planter.

arcani planter for opening said valves each time the planter depositsseed.

5. In a check row corn planter having a runner frame, tubes projectingoutwardly from the ends of said frame, valves supplied with liquid bythe tubes, means for supplying liquid under pressure to the tubes, andmeans actuated by the planter for opening said valves each time theplanter deposits seed, the last-mentioned means comprising anoscillating shaft, a cam fixed to the shaft, a rocking member looselymounted on the shaft and adapted to be moved in one direction by saidcam, and means operativelyconnecting the oscillating member to saidvalves.

6. In a check row corn planter having a runner frame, tubes projectingoutwardly from the ends of ysaid frame, valves supplied with liquid bythe tubes. means for supplying liquid to the tubes, means actuated bythe planter for opening said valveseach time'the planter deposits seed,and means operatively lassociated with the valves for simultaneouslyadjusting the extent to which the valves may open.

7. -Liquid marking means for planters comprising valves, a reciprocatingblock, an adjustable bracket for guiding the block and regulating the.esv

extent of its movement in one direction, and i means operativelyconnecting the block to said valves.

8. A liquid marker for planters comprising a reciprocating block, a pinadjustably connected to the block, an oscillating cam, a flexibleconnection joining the cam and pin, a valve having a stem, and meansactuated by the cam for moving the stem in the direction in which thevalve opens.

9. In a check row corn planter of the type having a runner frame andcheck shaft, a liquidcontainer carried by the planter, a valve arrangednear one end of the runner frame, means for conveying liquid from thecontainer to the valve, and means operatively connecting the valve tosaid check shaft whereby the valve is opened to deposit a jet of liquidon. the ground each time seed is deposited by the planter.

10. In a corn planter having a check shaft and a run'ner frame, pipesprojecting from opposite ends of the runner frame, valves supplied withliquid by the pipes and arranged in alignment with the seed boots of theplanter. means for supplying liquid to the pipes, and means operativelyconnecting the valves to said check shaft whereby the valves are openedeach time the planter deposits seed.

11. In a check row corn planter of the type having a runner frame and acheck shaft, of pipes projecting from opposite ends of the runner frame,valves for controlling the discharge of liquid from thepipes andarranged substantially in alignment with the seed boots of the planter,and means operatively connecting the-valves to said shaft whereby thevalves are opened each time the shaft is actuated.

12. The combination with a corn planter having a runner frame and checkshaft, of pipes projecting from opposite ends of the'runner frame,valves,carried by the pipes and arranged in substantial alignment withthe seed boots of the planter, and means operatively connecting thevalves to said check shaft whereby the valves are opened each time thecheck shaft is actuated.

13. In a corn planter having a check shaft and a` runner frame, a liquidcontainer carried pipes projecting 4from opposite ends of the runnerframe. valves arranged at the u outer ends o! the pipes in lateralalignment with seed boots of lthe planter, means iorcon'veying liquidunder pressure trom'the container to the pipes, and means operatively'connecting the valves to said check shaft whereby the valves are openedeach time thel planter 'deposits seeds.

14. The combination with a seedv planter having seed boots, of meanscontrolled by the planter and comprising nomles positioned laterally andoutwardly ot the boots for ejecting jets of marking liquidi'rom thenozzle each time the planter drops seed.

15. The combination with a check row corn planter having seed boots, ofliquid marking means controlled by the planter and comprising a nozzlepositioned laterally and outwardlyA of one o! said boots to deliver aiet of marking liquid each time Ithe com planter drops seed.

marking means operatively yconnected with said shaft and comprisingA anozzle positioned at the outer side of one of said boots and arranged toveject a jet of liquid in lateral alignment with drQPpedseed, each timeseed is deposited by the last-mentioned boot.

` 17. In a corn planter having seed boots, a liquid controlling valvearranged on the planter at the outer side of one of said boots and insubstantially lateral alignment with said boots, means forsupplyinglliquid under pressure to the valve. and means controlled bythe planter for actuating the valve each time seed is deposited bysaidboots.

. WILLIAM YG. STEVENS. JR.

